Modular electronic device accessory

ABSTRACT

A modular mobile device accessory, comprising an inner protective case sized, shaped and configured to be fitted by hand to a mobile device to protect the device from impact; an outer protective case sized, shaped and configured to fitted by hand on to, and removed by hand from, the inner protective case; whereby a level of impact protection, and a size of the device with the accessory, can be selectively varied.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/757,607, entitled “Modular Electronic Device Accessory”, filed Nov. 8, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of accessories for mobile electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, the rate of use of hand-held electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets has exploded. Such devices provide convenient access to communication and computing capability, and as a result, demand for such devices is very high.

Unfortunately, it is not unusual for such devices to be inadvertently dropped, or otherwise struck against a hard surface. When something like this happens, it is common for the device screen to break, or for the body of the device to be dented or broken. If the impact is severe enough, the internal electronics of the device may be affected.

As a result, it has become common for users of such devices to place protective cases on their mobile devices. Such cases typically are impact resistant, or impact absorbent, so that the force of an impact is dissipated within the case, and damage to the phone is reduced or prevented.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, there may be provided a modular mobile device accessory, comprising: an inner protective case sized, shaped and configured to be fitted by hand to a mobile device to protect the device from impact; an outer protective case sized, shaped and configured to fitted by hand on to, and removed by hand from, the inner protective case; whereby a level of impact protection, and a size of the device with the accessory, can be selectively varied. Optionally, the outer protective case includes a pocket for holding cards or bank notes. Optionally, the inner protective case is fittable to the mobile device by gripping edges of the mobile device. Optionally, the inner protective case is fittable to the mobile device by a snap fit on to the mobile device. Optionally, the outer protective case is fittable to the inner protective case by a snap fit. Optionally, the outer protective case being fittable to the inner protective case by gripping edges of the inner protective case. Optionally, the inner protective case can be used as stand alone case without the outer protective case.

The above summary is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings included in the present application are incorporated into, and form part of, the specification. They illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, along with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. The drawings are only illustrative of certain embodiments and do not limit the disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows three components of an embodiment of the device accessory.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the device accessory partially assembled.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the device accessory fully assembled.

FIG. 4 shows two components of another embodiment of the device accessory.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an outer case fitted to an embodiment of an inner case.

FIG. 6 shows a pocket in use in an embodiment of an outer case.

FIGS. 7A-G show bottom, perspective, right elevation, rear elevation, left elevation, front elevation and top views of an embodiment of an outer protective case.

FIGS. 8A-E show right elevation, rear elevation, left elevation, front elevation and top views of another embodiment of an outer protective case.

While embodiments of the disclosure are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It has been found that there are certain trade-offs associated with the use of protective cases. One such trade-off is that the cases add to the volume and weight of the mobile device. In particular, in relation to telephones, an effective protective case can increase the volume of the phone (with case) by fifty or one hundred percent. The case can add substantially to the weight of the phone as well. Since mobile phones are often carried in pockets, or small handbags, this increase in volume and weight can cause real inconvenience.

On the other hand, thin and light protective cases may be less effective than thicker and heavier cases in preventing breakage and damage to the phone.

It will be appreciated that the risk of breakage will vary according to the circumstances in which the device is carried and used. For example, if the device is generally located in a thickly carpeted area, it is less likely to break as a result of being inadvertently dropped than if it is generally located in an area with stone floors. As another example, a device belonging to a person who moves around only rarely during the day may be less likely to get inadvertently broken than a device belonging to somebody who moves the device from place to place frequently.

It is also the case that, in some circumstances, a device owner may find it easier to carry a bulkier device, while in other circumstances, it may be harder. For example, a person who carries a briefcase to work may have no trouble carrying a phone with a bulky protective case, because the briefcase provides adequate carrying space. The same person going to a nightclub may have only a small pocketbook or a clothes-pocket available to carry a phone, and thus, would find a bulky protective case less convenient.

It has been discovered that a modular electronic device accessory is helpful for device owners who face the above-described trade-offs.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. The modular phone accessory in this embodiment comprises an inner protective case 12, which fits over the mobile device 10. In FIG. 1, the device 10 is a mobile phone but the invention may be used with other mobile devices. The inner protective case 12 is sized, shaped and configured to be fitted by hand on to the device 10, and remain so fitted, to provide impact protection to the device 10.

The accessory further includes outer protective case 14. Outer protective case 14 is sized, shaped and otherwise configured to be hand-fitted, and to remain fitted, over inner protective case 12, while the inner protective case 12 is fitted to device 10. Case 14 is also configured to be selectively removed by hand.

FIG. 2 shows the inner protective case 12 fitted to the device 10, while the outer protective case 14 is detached. FIG. 3 shows the outer protective case 14 fitted over the inner protective case 12, which is in turn fitted to the device 10.

It will be appreciated that when both protective cases are fitted to the device 10, the device 10 is better protected against impact. However, when only inner case 12 is fitted to device 10, the volume and weight of the phone and associated case are smaller than when both cases are used. Thus, this modular phone accessory allows a user to adjust the level of impact protection, and the weight and volume of the protected phone, to match the user's needs and circumstances.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the modular accessory. Similar to the first embodiment, the inner protective case 12 fits over the device 10, and the outer case 16 fits over the inner protective case 12. The case 16 provides some added protection against impact, but less than outer protective case 14 of the first embodiment; as can be seen in FIGS. 4-6, case 16 does not fully cover inner protective case 12, but only partially covers it.

Referring to FIG. 6, case 16 is sized and shaped to provide a pocket 20 into which material, such as one or more cards 18 or cash money, can be carried along with device 10. Thus, in addition to the other benefits of the modular accessory, the accessory can be used as a replacement for a wallet in some circumstances, thus reducing the number of objects a user would need to carry.

Outer case 16 may fit onto inner protective case 12 by means of a snap fit. Case 16 may be made of relatively hard and smooth plastic, which provides for a slimmed-down profile, with a lack of protrusions and friction from the case 16, even when cards and/or money are positioned in the pocket.

Inner protective case 12 may be composed of flexible plastic or rubber or some other material. It may fit on to the mobile device by surrounding and gripping the narrow sides/edges of the device. Alternatively, inner protective case 12 may fit on to the device by means of a snap fit. Also alternatively, case 12 may be made of a rigid plastic or other materials.

FIG. 7 shows various views of outer protective case 14. FIG. 8 shows various views of outer case 16.

The cases 12, 14 and 16 may be made of synthetic or natural rubber, or plastic, or other materials that can be configured as described herein, and provide impact protection.

The references in all sections of this application are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the particulars of this detailed description. Rather, the invention is to be interpreted as having the full scope of the disclosure. The invention has been described in detail with reference to a mobile phone as an exemplary embodiment, and it applies mutatis mutandis to other mobile devices, such as tablets, portable digital music players and the like. 

1. A modular mobile device accessory, comprising: an inner protective case sized, shaped and configured to be fitted by hand to a mobile device to protect the device from impact; an outer protective case sized, shaped and configured to fitted by hand on to, and removed by hand from, the inner protective case; whereby a level of impact protection, and a size of the device with the accessory, can be selectively varied.
 2. A modular mobile device accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer protective case includes a pocket for holding cards or bank notes.
 3. A modular mobile device accessory as claimed in claim 1, the inner protective case being fittable to the mobile device by gripping edges of the mobile device.
 4. A modular mobile device accessory as claimed in claim 1, the inner protective case being fittable to the mobile device by a snap fit on to the mobile device.
 5. A modular mobile device as claimed in claim 1, the outer protective case being fittable to the inner protective case by a snap fit.
 6. A modular mobile device accessory as claimed in claim 1, the outer protective case being fittable to the inner protective case by gripping edges of the inner protective case. 